Home for the Holidays 2025 Matinee: Steve & Allison Martin
2025-12-13 15:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
BUY TICKETS

West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
Enjoy fresh-baked goods, candies, and snacks from Marlene Buller’s local bakery, Frosted Memories, and hot food from the Inspired Eats food truck. A portion of each purchase will benefit HSO’s Education programs. Cash payment is preferred, but Venmo is also an option.
Holland Symphony Orchestra & Deos Contemporary Ballet
Guest Artists Hosts Lee & Linda De Visser
Johannes Müller Stosch, Music Director & Conductor Steve & Allison Martin, vocalists
Local favorites Steve and Allison Martin join HSO for festive selections from The Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson’s classic Sleigh Ride, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and some of the Martins’ favorite songs, including “The Prayer,” “O Holy Night,” and “Ave Maria.” Rounding out the family-friendly concert will be the audience favorite “Christmas Singalong,” full of well-known holiday carols! Steve and Allison are well known in West Michigan, having sung on opera stages and musical productions locally and around the country. Allison received her Masters of Music from Michigan State University. Steve holds a doctorate and master’s in music from Michigan State University. He has taught at the college level and is now Director of Music and Fine Arts at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.
A special thank you to Guest Artists sponsors Lee & Linda De Visser

Program
Information
Artist bio

Program
La Péri – FanfarePaul Dukas
Ave MariaJohann Sebastian Bach/Charles Gounod
Panis Angelicus César Franck
“Carillon” and “Farandole” from L’ArlésienneGeorges Bizet
O Holy NightAdolphe Adam, arr. René Clausen
AdorationFlorence Price
White ChristmasIrving Berlin, arr. Robert Russell Bennett
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like ChristmasMeredith Wilson, arr. Daryl McKenzie
Christmas SongRobert Wells & Mel Torme, arr. Daryl McKenzie
“Arabian dance,” “Dance of the Reed Flutes,” & “Waltz of the Flowers” from The NutcrackerPeter Ilych Tchaikovsky
Sleigh rideLeroy Anderson
The PrayerCarole Bayer Sager & David Foster, arr. Larry GossChristmas Singalong
Allison Martin received her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Michigan State University and Bachelors of Arts in Music Performance from Goshen College. She has performed throughout the U.S. and in Italy singing both opera and musical theater. She has performed roles such as Annina in Verdi’s La Traviata, Countess Charlotte in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, Casilda in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, Laetitia in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, and Catherine in Schwartz’s Pippin with companies such as Opera in the Rock, Opera Grand Rapids, and The Other Mirror Production Company. On the oratorio stage, she was the soprano soloist for Mozart’s Missa Brevis in Fmajor in Vienna and Saltzburg, Austria, Handel’s Messiah with the Mennonite Choral Society, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem with the St. Joseph Valley Camerata, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Goshen College where she was also an invited masterclass clinician. Martin currently serves as Interim Managing Director for the Next Festival of Emerging Artists (www.next-fest.org).
Stephen Martin has enjoyed engagements spanning throughout Italy, China, Austria, and the United States singing leading roles in staged works such as La Traviata, La Bohème, The Tales of Hoffmann, Gianni Schicchi, The Grapes of Wrath, Les Misérables, and many more. He has performed with companies such as The Santa Fe Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival Opera, Sarasota Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera in the Rock, Chicago Summer Opera Festival, Kenosha Opera, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Motor City Brass Band, Flint Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Symphony, and others. Stephen has twice won the East Tennessee District Metropolitan Opera Competition and is the recipient of an Encouragement Award at the Mid-South Regional Metropolitan Opera competition. He was a grand finalist in the Rochester International Voice Competition, a semi-finalist in the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition, Opera Index Competition, and Birmingham Opera competitions, was awarded the Mandelker/Harris Award for Outstanding Returning Studio Artist at Sarasota Opera, and won the Charlotte Ruppel Memorial Voice Competition.
In 2019 Stephen took a step back from full-time performing and became an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Central Arkansas where he served for two years until transitioning into full time music ministry. He currently serves as the Director of Music and Fine Arts at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.
Stephen holds a Doctorate in Voice Performance, Masters Degrees in Voice Performance and Music Theory Pedagogy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance all from Michigan State University.
You can learn more about Stephen at StephenMartinTenor.com
Deos Contemporary Ballet
inspire (a) movement.
Deos Contemporary Ballet uplifts artists through a culture focused on diversity, wellness, and empathy. We inspire a broader audience through innovation in education, film and live performances. We make contemporary ballet accessible to all through profound and relatable works of art.
our history
Tess Sinke (Artistic Director) envisioned a professional ballet company named “Deos” in the early 2000’s. After meeting Andrew Hoekstra (Executive Director) in 2016, they formed Deos Contemporary Ballet in 2018.
Deos Ballet began with the first-ever COLLIDE Summer Series, bringing dancers from across the country together for a short-term contract during their summer layoff from year-round commitments. Since 2018, Deos has continued to host dancers for our annual Summer Series. COLLIDE continues to be Deos Ballet’s largest program of the season, bringing together 12 professional dancers, a handful of collegiate interns, and other guest artists for a fast-paced, short-term rehearsal and performance season.
Since 2018, Deos has expanded to provide our core dancers (those local to Grand Rapids, or those who have relocated to Grand Rapids) performance opportunities and Dance for Film recording contracts throughout the year, with the goal of curating a full season in Grand Rapids and further cementing our footprint in the Michigan dance scene. This goal was achieved in the fall of 2022 when we announced our first full season of year-round performances: EPILOGUE (fall series), EMBER (winter series), AWAKEN (spring series), and COLLIDE (summer series). During the 2023-2024 performance season, our annual offerings grew to include an instant hit, Cracked Nuts: Not Your Mother’s Nutcracker. The premiere weekend of Cracked Nuts entirely sold out, even when adding an additional performance evening. Deos Ballet continues to grow and participate in outreach performances in partnerships with the Grand Rapids Art Museum, local and touring orchestras/choirs, churches, and other arts organizations throughout the city.
For more information, click here.

Home for the Holidays 2025 Evening: Steve & Allison Martin
2025-12-13 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
BUY TICKETS

West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
Enjoy fresh-baked goods, candies, and snacks from Marlene Buller’s local bakery, Frosted Memories, and hot food from the Inspired Eats food truck. A portion of each purchase will benefit HSO’s Education programs. Cash payment is preferred, but Venmo is also an option.
Holland Symphony Orchestra & Deos Contemporary Ballet
Guest Artists Hosts Lee & Linda De Visser
Johannes Müller Stosch, Music Director & Conductor Steven & Allison Martin, vocalists
HSO welcomes students from the Holland Area Youth Orchestra and Music Director Josh Zallar for select movements.
Local favorites Steve and Allison Martin join HSO for festive selections from The Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson’s classic Sleigh Ride, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and some of the Martins’ favorite songs, including “The Prayer,” “O Holy Night,” and “Ave Maria.” Rounding out the family-friendly concert will be the audience favorite “Christmas Singalong,” full of well-known holiday carols! Steve and Allison are well known in West Michigan, having sung on opera stages and musical productions locally and around the country. Allison received her Masters of Music from Michigan State University. Steve holds a doctorate and master’s in music from Michigan State University. He has taught at the college level and is now Director of Music and Fine Arts at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.
A special thank you to Guest Artists sponsors Lee & Linda De Visser

Program
Information
Artist bio

Program
La Péri – FanfarePaul Dukas
Ave MariaJohann Sebastian Bach/Charles Gounod
Panis Angelicus César Franck
“Carillon” and “Farandole” from L’ArlésienneGeorges Bizet
O Holy NightAdolphe Adam, arr. René Clausen
AdorationFlorence Price
White ChristmasIrving Berlin, arr. Robert Russell Bennett
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like ChristmasMeredith Wilson, arr. Daryl McKenzie
Christmas SongRobert Wells & Mel Torme, arr. Daryl McKenzie
“Arabian dance,” “Dance of the Reed Flutes,” & “Waltz of the Flowers” from The NutcrackerPeter Ilych Tchaikovsky
Sleigh rideLeroy Anderson
The PrayerCarole Bayer Sager & David Foster, arr. Larry GossChristmas Singalong
Allison Martin received her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Michigan State University and Bachelors of Arts in Music Performance from Goshen College. She has performed throughout the U.S. and in Italy singing both opera and musical theater. She has performed roles such as Annina in Verdi’s La Traviata, Countess Charlotte in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, Casilda in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, Laetitia in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, and Catherine in Schwartz’s Pippin with companies such as Opera in the Rock, Opera Grand Rapids, and The Other Mirror Production Company. On the oratorio stage, she was the soprano soloist for Mozart’s Missa Brevis in Fmajor in Vienna and Saltzburg, Austria, Handel’s Messiah with the Mennonite Choral Society, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem with the St. Joseph Valley Camerata, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Goshen College where she was also an invited masterclass clinician. Martin currently serves as Interim Managing Director for the Next Festival of Emerging Artists (www.next-fest.org).
Stephen Martin has enjoyed engagements spanning throughout Italy, China, Austria, and the United States singing leading roles in staged works such as La Traviata, La Bohème, The Tales of Hoffmann, Gianni Schicchi, The Grapes of Wrath, Les Misérables, and many more. He has performed with companies such as The Santa Fe Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival Opera, Sarasota Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera in the Rock, Chicago Summer Opera Festival, Kenosha Opera, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Motor City Brass Band, Flint Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Symphony, and others. Stephen has twice won the East Tennessee District Metropolitan Opera Competition and is the recipient of an Encouragement Award at the Mid-South Regional Metropolitan Opera competition. He was a grand finalist in the Rochester International Voice Competition, a semi-finalist in the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition, Opera Index Competition, and Birmingham Opera competitions, was awarded the Mandelker/Harris Award for Outstanding Returning Studio Artist at Sarasota Opera, and won the Charlotte Ruppel Memorial Voice Competition.
In 2019 Stephen took a step back from full-time performing and became an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Central Arkansas where he served for two years until transitioning into full time music ministry. He currently serves as the Director of Music and Fine Arts at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.
Stephen holds a Doctorate in Voice Performance, Masters Degrees in Voice Performance and Music Theory Pedagogy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance all from Michigan State University.
You can learn more about Stephen at StephenMartinTenor.com
Deos Contemporary Ballet
inspire (a) movement.
Deos Contemporary Ballet uplifts artists through a culture focused on diversity, wellness, and empathy. We inspire a broader audience through innovation in education, film and live performances. We make contemporary ballet accessible to all through profound and relatable works of art.
our history
Tess Sinke (Artistic Director) envisioned a professional ballet company named “Deos” in the early 2000’s. After meeting Andrew Hoekstra (Executive Director) in 2016, they formed Deos Contemporary Ballet in 2018.
Deos Ballet began with the first-ever COLLIDE Summer Series, bringing dancers from across the country together for a short-term contract during their summer layoff from year-round commitments. Since 2018, Deos has continued to host dancers for our annual Summer Series. COLLIDE continues to be Deos Ballet’s largest program of the season, bringing together 12 professional dancers, a handful of collegiate interns, and other guest artists for a fast-paced, short-term rehearsal and performance season.
Since 2018, Deos has expanded to provide our core dancers (those local to Grand Rapids, or those who have relocated to Grand Rapids) performance opportunities and Dance for Film recording contracts throughout the year, with the goal of curating a full season in Grand Rapids and further cementing our footprint in the Michigan dance scene. This goal was achieved in the fall of 2022 when we announced our first full season of year-round performances: EPILOGUE (fall series), EMBER (winter series), AWAKEN (spring series), and COLLIDE (summer series). During the 2023-2024 performance season, our annual offerings grew to include an instant hit, Cracked Nuts: Not Your Mother’s Nutcracker. The premiere weekend of Cracked Nuts entirely sold out, even when adding an additional performance evening. Deos Ballet continues to grow and participate in outreach performances in partnerships with the Grand Rapids Art Museum, local and touring orchestras/choirs, churches, and other arts organizations throughout the city.
For more information, click here.

HSO Norbert Mueller Memorial Young Artist Competition
2026-01-10 13:00 - 14:30 | GVSU – Haas Center for the Performing Arts, 10610 S Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401, United States
Free Event – RSVP Here

Saturday, January 10, 2026, 1 PM
Grand Valley State University
Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for the Performing Arts – Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall
Enjoy a concert full of young talent! Students in grades 9-12 compete in a recital for the three top cash prizes. Judges have been hand-picked from the ranks of the Holland Symphony Orchestra.
Mason Sybesma, violin, Kim Mast, pianoMax Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26: II
Natalie Im, violin, Sarah Bast, pianoCharles de Bériot: Violin Concerto No. 9 in A Minor, Op. 104: I
Tanner Reynolds, bassoon, Emily Grabinski, pianoCamille Saint-Saëns: Sonata in G Major: I & II
Charlotte Beckman, violin, Sarah Bast, pianoCharles de Bériot: Scene de Ballet
Abram VandenBerg, cello, Sarah Bast pianoEdward Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: IV
Jack Sherman, violin, Sarah Bast, pianoFelix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64: I
Annika Johnson, French horn, Paul Connelly, pianoRichard Strauss, Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Op. 11; I
Beret Anna Hilsman, violin, Sarah Bast, piano
The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto – He Zhanhao & Chen Gang
Tyler Michielsen, trumpet Paul Connelly, pianoJoseph Hadyn: Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major, I.
A special thank you to our host, GVSU professor & HSO principal cellist Pablo Mahave-Veglia, and our accompanist, education committee chair, and board member Sarah Bast, as well as our program supporters Jean & Bob Olney, the Mueller Memorial Fund, Howard Endowment, Michigan Arts & Culture Council, and the John and Judy Spoelhof Foundation.
Admission is free, and seating is general admission. Please RSVP using the button below or above.

Free Event – RSVP Here

HSO Piano Trio at Harderwyk Ministries
2026-02-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Harderwyk Church, 1627 W Lakewood Blvd, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
RSVP for Free Concert

HSO Piano Trio (Amanda Dykhouse, violin; Lee Copenhaver, cello; Allison Keep, piano)

Beethoven Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost”

Faure Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 120

Join violinist Amanda Dykhouse, cellist Lee Copenhaver, and pianist Allison Shinnick Keep in a concert presenting two masterpieces for piano trio. Beethoven’s well-known “Ghost” trio opens and closes with energetically joyful movements surrounding a hauntingly beautiful slow movement. Fauré’s elegant trio is full of warm melodies, rich harmonies, and virtuosic piano writing.
RSVP for Free here or with the button above.
While these concerts are free to attend, the cost to produce them is not free. Please consider donating to support these free concerts. You may donate at the event to HSO and Harderwyk, online by clicking here, or mail a check to Holland Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 2685, Holland, MI 49422
A special thank you to the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council for their support of HSO Chamber Music.

HSO Piano Trio at Second Reformed Church Zeeland
2026-02-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Second Reformed Church Zeeland, 225 E. Central Avenue, Zeeland, MI, 49464, United States
RSVP for Free Here

HSO Piano Trio (Amanda Dykhouse, violin; Lee Copenhaver, cello; Allison Keep, piano)

Beethoven Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost”

Faure Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 120

Join violinist Amanda Dykhouse, cellist Lee Copenhaver, and pianist Allison Shinnick Keep in a concert presenting two masterpieces for piano trio. Beethoven’s well-known “Ghost” trio opens and closes with energetically joyful movements surrounding a hauntingly beautiful slow movement. Fauré’s elegant trio is full of warm melodies, rich harmonies, and virtuosic piano writing.
To RSVP for this Free concert, click here or use the button above.
While these concerts are free to attend, the cost to produce them is not free. Please consider donating to support these free concerts. You may donate at the event to HSO and Second Reformed Church, online by clicking here, or mail a check to Holland Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 2685, Holland, MI 49422
A special thank you to the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council for their support of HSO Chamber Music.

HSO Piano Trio at First Reformed Church Holland - Free to Attend
2026-03-01 15:00 - 16:30 | First Reformed Church Holland, 630 State Street, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
RSVP for Free Here

HSO Piano Trio (Amanda Dykhouse, violin; Lee Copenhaver, cello; Allison Keep, piano)

Beethoven Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost”

Faure Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 120

As part of the Free@3 concert series, join violinist and HSO Concertmaster, Amanda Dykhouse, cellist Lee Copenhaver, and pianist Allison Shinnick in a concert presenting two masterpieces for piano trio. Beethoven’s well-known “Ghost” trio opens and closes with energetically joyful movements surrounding a hauntingly beautiful slow movement. Fauré’s elegant trio is full of warm melodies, rich harmonies, and virtuosic piano writing.
RSVP here for free. Seating is general admission.
While these concerts are free to attend, the cost to produce them is not free. Please consider donating to support these free concerts. You may donate at the event to HSO and First Reformed Church, online by clicking here, or mail a check to Holland Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 2685, Holland, MI 49422

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Family Event: Musical Adventures of Ferdinand the Bull 2026
2026-03-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Herrick District Library – Main, 300 S. River Ave, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
RSVP Here

Free Kids Concert: The Musical Adventures of Ferdinand the Bull
Saturday, March 14, 202611 AM – 12 PMHerrick Main Branch Library, HollandCommunity Room
Ideal for families with kids who love music and story time.
Back by popular demand! Join our friends at the Herrick Main Library and a string quartet from the Holland Symphony Orchestra for a free performance of the beloved classic The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, accompanied by beautiful, dramatic music from Bizet’s famous opera Carmen!
Attendance is free, and seating is general admission. Please RSVP here or use the button at the top of this page.
Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, and the Holland Symphony Orchestra Annual Fund.

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Holland Symphony Youth Orchestra - Spring 2026 Concert
2026-03-22 15:00 - 16:30 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
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Holland Symphony Youth Orchestra – Spring 2026 Concert
West Ottawa Performing Arts Center (3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI 49424) Enjoy baked goods and sweet treats from Dolce Mini Cakes and Inspired Eats food trucks, and Marlene Buller’s Frosted Memories. 15% of all food sales support HSO’s education programs, so eat up!
Holland Area Junior Strings
Conductor: Victoria Zokoe
Sword Dance by Thoinot Arbeau (arr. Phillips)
Star Dancer by Mark Williams
Petite Tango by Casimer Kriechbaum
Dance of Fire by Frank J. Halferty
Holland Area Concert Strings
Conductor & Music Director: Kyle Nester
Star Wars Main Theme by John Williams (arr. Larry Clark)
A Little Bit of …. Space …. Time by Samuel Adler
Jupiter from The Planets, Op. 32, by Gustav Holst (arr. by Deborah Baker Monday)
Variations on a Mozart Theme (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (arr. by Robert Longfield)
Holland Area Youth Orchestra
Conductor & Music Director: Josh ZallarHighlights from Wicked by Stephan SchwartzSelections from Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Franz Von Suppé’s Poet and Peasants’ Overture “Composed in 1846 for a Viennese “comedy with songs,” Franz Von Suppé’s Poet and Peasants’ Overture is filled with dramatic contrast. From the slow brass chorale opening to the cello solo with harp accompaniment, and concluding with a fast-paced dance, this overture keeps the listener entertained. Many of these themes have found their way into pop culture, finding places in cartoons, such as Looney Tunes, amongst others. General Admission Tickets: Adults $11, Students $6 Special thanks to HSYO supporters Bob & Jean Olney and the John & Dede Howard Fund Questions? Call 616-796-6780 or email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org

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Classics III: Dreams of Heaven & Earth
2026-03-28 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
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Johannes Müller Stosch, conductor Michelle Areyzaga, soprano
West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
Click here to view or download a PDF of the West Ottawa Performing Arts seating chart.
Enjoy baked goods and sweet treats from the Inspired Eats food truck and Marlene Buller’s Frosted Memories. 15% of all food sales support HSO’s education programs, so eat up!
A special thank you to our guest artist hosts Gary & Jane Handel.
BEETHOVEN Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43DEBUSSY Petite Suite MAHLER Symphony No. 4 (chamber version)
Beethoven’s overture to his only full-length ballet, The Creatures of Prometheus, was based on the ancient myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and brought it to mankind. This key transitional work bridged his early, classical style with the “heroic” period, as heard in the unconventional, dramatic opening and thematic material that depicts the Olympian grandeur of the godly hero and, in the main body of the piece, the exuberant joy of the mortals who benefit from the gift of fire. Motivated by the poems of Paul Verlaine (1844-1896), Debussy’s 1889 Petite Suite (Small Suite) was originally composed for piano duet and later orchestrated by his colleague Henri Büsser. The four movements of this whimsical tone poem paint musical pictures of 18th-century aristocrats on country outings, a romantic boat ride at dusk on a dark lake, a playful menuetto, and a sparkling ballet. Mahler’s fourth symphony is a contrapuntal, folk-tune inspired musical journey from experience to innocence, from complexity to simplicity, and from earthly life to heaven, complete with tender string passages, brass chorales, and lilting soprano lines. Klaus Simon’s 2007 chamber arrangement retains Mahler’s unmistakable orchestral sound in a way that enables chamber orchestras to perform this intimate and tender symphony.
HSO audiences first met Chicago-based soprano Michelle Areyzaga at the 2022 holiday concert. Back by popular demand, Michelle Areyzaga makes her second appearance with HSO. “Soprano Michelle Areyzaga sang with a round, clear tone throughout her register. Areyzaga’s luminous soprano plumbed the depths of the text, alternating between plaintive folkishness … to soaring, operatic grandeur.” – Chicago Classical Review

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Program
Information
Program Notes
Artist bio
Pre-Concert Video

Program
Overture to The Creatures of PrometheusLudwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Petite SuiteClaude Debussy (1862-1918) 1. En bateau (In the Boat) 2. Cortège (Procession) 3. Menuet 4. Ballet
Symphony No. 4 in G MajorGustav Mahler (1860-1911), orch. Klaus Simon 1. Bedächtig; nicht eilen (Deliberately. Not rushed) 2. In gemächlicher Bewegung; ohne Hast (In easy motion. Without haste) 3. Ruhevoll (Serene) 4. Sehr behaglich (Very leisurely)
Michelle Areyzaga, Soprano

Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43Ludwig van Beethoven
Born: December 17, 1770 (baptized), Bonn Died: March 26, 1837, ViennaComposed: 1800-1801Premiered: 1801, Burgtheater, ViennaApproximate Duration: 5 minutesInstrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings
Beethoven composed his only ballet, The Creatures of Prometheus, in 1801. In sixteen scenes, Beethoven tells the story of Prometheus from Greek mythology, reinterpreting the myth through the ideals of the Enlightenment. Beethoven portrays Prometheus, the Greek god who fashions the first man and woman from clay and water and then gives them life with fire stolen from heaven. His creations come alive, but, like statues, they lack essential qualities that make them fully human. Prometheus takes them to Mount Parnassus to be enlightened. Gradually, various gods and goddesses teach them science, music, dance, and drama, granting them emotion, intellect, reason, humor, and pleasure, so they may truly begin life’s journey. Although Prometheus encounters punishment and death in both the original myth and the ballet, The Creatures of Prometheus focuses on happiness, human advancement, and the Enlightenment ideal of the power of arts to refine humanity.
The production was such a huge success that it contributed greatly to Beethoven’s emerging reputation as a major artist. The popularity of his first major theatrical venture led directly to a commission for a full-length opera, Fidelio. Beethoven also borrowed themes from the ballet for his Eroica symphony. However, only the Prometheus Overture has remained in modern concert performances. For a long time, it was the only overture in Beethoven’s repertoire, so his concerts often opened with this piece. It begins in an unusual manner, with forceful, dissonant chords outside the home key, before journeying to C major through a chain of harmonic progressions. The brilliant allegro section, which sparkles with energy, often is said to represent Prometheus fleeing from heaven after stealing fire from the gods.
To watch a video of Beethoven’s Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, click here.
Petite SuiteClaude Debussy
Born: August 22, 1862, Saint-Germaine-en Laye, near ParisDied: March 26, 1918, ParisOrchestrated: Henri BüsserComposed: for piano four-hands in 1889; orchestrated in 1907Premiere: Piano four-hands version: Paris, 1 March 1889; private salonPremiere: Orchestral version: Paris, 4 November 1907Approximate Duration: 14 minutesInstrumentation: 2 flutes (one doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (one doubling English horn), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, percussion (cymbal, suspended cymbal, tambourine, triangle), harp, strings
Early in his compositional life, before developing the Impressionist style that would define his “voice” as a composer, Debussy found inspiration in French Baroque music, particularly the refinement of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s (1683-1764) dance suites. Debussy completed two four-hand (two players on one piano) piano suites in 1889, the Petite Suite and the Suite Bergamesque, which includes his famous “Claire de Lune.” Both pieces consist mainly of dance suites, combining the Baroque structure with the colors and harmonies that would come to define Debussy’s work.
Debussy’s Petite Suite is best known today in its orchestral setting by Henri-Paul Büsser. Büsser was a composer, organist, arranger, and teacher. Like Debussy, he attended the Paris Conservatoire and received the Prix de Rome. He had Debussy’s blessing to re-cast the suite in an orchestral setting faithful to Debussy’s color and style.
Debussy based the first two movements on poems by Paul Verlaine (1844-1896) that narrate eighteenth century aristocratic country outings. “En bateau” (In a boat) opens with a sigh before depicting romantic trysts at dusk on shimmering and gentle water. This gentle lullaby evokes Verlaine’s poem (translated): “Meanwhile the moon sheds its glow / On the skiff’s brief course below, / Gaily riding the dream-like flow.” The central section is based on whole tone scales, one of Debussy’s trademarks. “Cortège” (Procession) begins with a distant procession that grows in volume and complexity as it arrives before listeners. Verlaine’s poem describes an elegant woman escorted by a uniformed monkey. The woodwinds are crisp and the percussion is gentle, portraying this playful and mischievous scene. The Menuet is warm and melodic, a nostalgic courtly dance looking back to Baroque sensibilities The last movement is an energetic Ballet. This wasn’t intended to be music for a choreographed nineteenth-century ballet, but recalls the sixteenth century Italian balletti, a dance-like vocal piece intended for personal entertainment. These were brought to England as balletts and often contained a characteristic wordless “fa-la-la” refrain. Debussy’s festive movement sometimes sounds like a waltz, but toward the end it gets faster, resembling a sparkling jig.
To watch a video of Debussy’s Petite Suite, click here.
Symphony No. 4 in G MajorGustav MahlerArranged by Klaus Simon
Born: July 7, 1860Died: May 18, 1911, Vienna Composed: 1899-1900Arranged: 2007Premiered: November 25, 1901, MunichApproximate Duration: 54 minutesInstrumentation (original): 4 flutes (2 doubling piccolo), 3 oboes (one doubling English horn), 2 clarinets, e-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon), 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, timpani, percussion (bass drum, cymbals, glockenspiel, sleigh bells, tamtam, triangle), harp, strings, sopranoInstrumentation (arrangement): 1 flute (doubling on piccolo), 1 oboe (doubling on English horn), 1 clarinet (doubling on bass clarinet), 1 bassoon, 1 French horn, percussion (bass drum, cymbals, glockenspiel, sleigh bells, suspended cymbal, tamtam, triangle), piano, harmonium, strings, soprano
“A symphony should be like the world,” Mahler told Jean Sibelius in 1907, “it must contain everything.” It is this sentiment that set Mahler apart from all previous composers of symphonies and that makes his works such milestones for orchestras and musicians to perform. He composed on a grand scale, for very large orchestras that often included choirs and solo vocalists, with an unprecedented range of moods and orchestral colors, often stretching the late Romantic harmonies to new places. Many of his symphonies explore “epic” themes like good and evil, heaven and hell. However, Mahler also borrowed from “everyday” sounds—bugle calls, bird songs, dance tunes—and quoted his own music as well as that of Weber, Wagner, Liszt, and Berlioz. No wonder audiences initially had a difficult time appreciating Mahler’s work!
The fourth symphony is Mahler’s “lightest” symphony. He wrote it during the summers of 1899 and 1900, when he had some freedom from his demanding position as the music director of the Vienna Opera. Its original version called for a large woodwind section but did not include trombones or tubas. (By contrast, many of Mahler’s symphonies use double the size of a standard Romantic era brass section). Mahler found his subject matter in a collection of poetry published a century earlier known as Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Youth’s Magic Horn). Mahler set over twelve of these poems to music, either for voice and piano or voice and orchestra, incorporating some of these song settings in his symphonies. Mahler originally planned on adding a seventh movement to his third symphony, a setting of the song he had written earlier to the Wunderhorn poem “Der Himmel hängt voller Geigen” (Heaven is full of violins). He changed his mind and decided to use this setting, which he entitled Das himmlische Leben (The heavenly life), as the final movement of his fourth symphony. In this work, Mahler imagines a child’s view of heaven and earth, perhaps to escape the complexities and existential challenges he faced both in his daily life and in his other compositions.
Mahler uses the standard four movement structure for this symphony. The first movement is melodic, often punctuated by sleigh bells. It is charming and graceful, with a joyful and tender mood. The many changes in tempo and dynamics give it a playful and whimsical quality. The ominous second movement resembles a scherzo. It was inspired by a painting by the Swiss artist Arnold Böcklin: Self-Portrait with Death Playing the Fiddle (1872). A solo violinist leads the orchestra in the dance, but the violin is tuned a step higher than normal, giving it a brighter and slightly pinched sound to resemble a rustic fiddler. The slow third movement ushers in a calm mood. Cellos introduce the peaceful main theme which, as in all the movements, is recast in many different forms and transformed by a quickening tempo. Toward the end, the brightness of a giant E major chord contrasts greatly against a shadowy interpretation of the movement’s main theme. The last movement begins with a relaxed pace. Here, the soprano soloist gives words to the child’s view of heaven as a place full of playing, dancing, good food, good music, saints, and martyrs. The text recalls some of the moments and moods heard earlier in the piece. Mahler orchestrates the poem with color and charm,. Eventually the movement shifts to the bright key of E major before the symphony ends peacefully.
Ever since the invention of the symphony and the concerto, these large compositions have frequently been arranged for smaller forces. Several of the Beethoven piano concertos, for example, were arranged soon after their debuts for string quartet/quintet and soloist. At a time when recorded music was not available, these reduced instrumentations provided a practical and economical way to perform and enjoy this music in private performances and small spaces. Similarly, several of Mahler’s symphonies have been arranged for smaller orchestras, enabling groups to perform his works without the massive forces required for most of his symphonies. There are at least five alternate versions of the fourth symphony. These arrangements were performed frequently at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when musicians needed to be distanced from one another onstage. Klaus Simon re-orchestrated this symphony in May 2007 for the Holst Sinfonietta, a chamber orchestra in Freiburg. He preserved Mahler’s orchestral sound and instrumental colors well, enabling each instrument, and especially the soprano soloist, to participate fully and be heard well.
To watch a video of this version of Mahler’s fourth symphony, click here.
Praised for her “radiant and all-encompassing soprano” (Chicago Tribune), Michelle Areyzaga performs a diverse range of orchestral, oratorio, opera, and chamber repertoire. As a “consummate vocal actress” (Fanfare), she is held in high regard throughout the United States and abroad for her “appealing, expressive soprano” (New York Times).
Michelle has appeared as soloist with orchestras and festivals across the country including the Chicago Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Colorado Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Flint Symphony, Fort Wayne Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Hartford Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Rochester Symphony; the Ravinia, Oregon Bach, Blossom, and Grant Park music festivals.
Abroad, Ms. Areyzaga has performed with the Orquesta Sinfónica de México, Orquesta Filarmónica de Montevideo, and Uruguay’s Orquesta Sinfónica del Sodre. She sang in Costa Rica’s first performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass with the National Symphony Orchestra under conductor John Nelson. She appeared as soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor at England’s York Minster Cathedral, Ely Cathedral, and St. Mary’s Church in Oxford. At Paris’s L’église de la Madeleine, she was soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with the orchestra of London’s Royal Academy of Music and the St. Charles Singers.
Michelle has sung leading roles for New York City Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Birmingham, and other regional companies. Some of her favorite roles include Micaela (Carmen), Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Musetta (La Bohème), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) and Cunegonde (Candide). Her staged portrayals have consistently garnered high praise such as “sensational” for her performances of Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi (The Chicago Reader) and “stunning” as Bubikopf in Der Kaiser von Atlantis (Opera Magazine, London).
Highly respected for her work as an avid chamber musician and recitalist, Michelle has been a repeat guest of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the New York Festival of Song, the Avalon String Quartet, The Lincoln Trio, and has been a member of the Chicago Ensemble since the beginning of her career.
Renowned for her artistry with new music and contemporary composers, Ms. Areyzaga has been honored to perform and record multiple world-premieres for composers Gwyneth Walker, Lita Grier, Stacy Garrop, Fabio Luisi, and Gustavo Leone. Her most recent art song album, Were I With Thee, features all contemporary American art songs with texts by women, including world-premiere recordings of works by Wayland Rogers and Gwyneth Walker. Artsong Update praised Were I With Thee as “one of the finest art song CDs ever… a ground-breaking art song CD of twenty-first century sensibility.”
As a lifelong champion of Leonard Bernstein’s music, Michelle toured Bernstein on Broadway for six years together with Leonard Bernstein’s daughter, Jamie. Ms. Areyzaga was named Musical Ambassador of the Ravinia Festival’s Bernstein at 100 Centennial Celebration.
Ms. Areyzaga is artist faculty at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and Loyola University Chicago. Michelle is passionate about guiding and inspiring her private voice students through her knowledge of vocal literature, technique, and her training as a life coach.
To watch the pre-concert video, click here.

Free Chamber Music - HSO Wind Quintet - Warm Friend
2026-04-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Warm Friend – Resthaven, 5 East 8th Street, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
This is a private event for Warm Friend-Resthaven residents and family members only.
HSO Wind Quintet (Rebecca VanDeWalker, Flute; Caitlin Kramer, Oboe; Gary June, Clarinet; Kerrissa Silverthorne, Bassoon; Greg Bassett, Horn)

Beach, Pastorale

Ewazen, Roaring Fork

Coleman, Red Clay and Mississippi Delta

Barber, Summer Music

Coleman, Umoja

The HSO Wind Quintet presents a program of American Landscapes: music of composers Amy Beach, Eric Ewazen, and Valerie Coleman evokes the calm of a New Hampshire forest, the grandeur of the Roaring Fork river in Colorado, and the bluesy southern charm along the Mississippi River. The program concludes in Michigan, with a piece commissioned and premiered in the state: Samuel Barber’s famous Summer Music.
The generous community leaders at the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council and HSO donors fund our chamber music performances. Please consider using the following link to donate to the Holland Symphony Orchestra.

Free Chamber Music - HSO Wind Quintet - Saugatuck
2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Saugatuck-Douglas Library, 174 Center Street, Douglas, MI, 49406, United States
RSVP Here

This is free chamber concert. Please RSVP using the button above.
HSO Wind Quintet (Rebecca VanDeWalker, Flute; Caitlin Kramer, Oboe; Gary June, Clarinet; Kerrissa Silverthorne, Bassoon; Greg Bassett, Horn)

Beach, Pastorale

Ewazen, Roaring Fork

Coleman, Red Clay and Mississippi Delta

Barber, Summer Music

Coleman, Umoja

The HSO Wind Quintet presents a program of American Landscapes: music of composers Amy Beach, Eric Ewazen, and Valerie Coleman evokes the calm of a New Hampshire forest, the grandeur of the Roaring Fork river in Colorado, and the bluesy southern charm along the Mississippi River. The program concludes in Michigan, with a piece commissioned and premiered in the state: Samuel Barber’s famous Summer Music.
Thank you to our gracious hosts at the Saugatuck Douglas Library and the generous community leaders at the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council.
Please consider using the following link to donate to the Holland Symphony Orchestra.

Classics IV: Romantic Connections
2026-04-25 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
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Johannes Müller Stosch, conductor Mikhail Korzhev, piano
West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
A special thank you to our guest artist hosts Ruth & David Crouch.
Arturo Márquez Danzón No. 2 (Audience Choice 2026) BONDS Montgomery Variations MARX Romantic Piano Concerto
Mexican composer Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 is one of the most frequently performed Latin American pieces in the orchestral canon today. It is based on the Cuban danzón. Márquez writes, “Danzón 2 … endeavors to get as close as possible to the dance, to its nostalgic melodies, to its wild rhythms, and although it violates its intimacy, its form and its harmonic language, it is a very personal way of paying my respects and expressing my emotions towards truly popular music.”
After studying piano and composition with Florence Price in Chicago, Margaret Bonds composed her variations in the wake of the 1963 firebombing of Birmingham, Alabama’s 16th Street Baptist Church. She describes them as “a group of freestyle variations based on the Negro Spiritual theme; I want Jesus to Walk with Me. The treatment suggests the manner in which Bach constructed his partitas – a bold statement of the theme, followed by variations of the theme.” A profound lyricist and yearning optimist, Austrian composer Joseph Marx considered himself a musical poet of happiness. HSO Music Director Johannes Müller Stosch describes his 1919 Romantic Piano Concerto as “the Austrian counterpart of Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto, with lush romantic melodies, harmonies, and plenty of technical fireworks for the soloist.” The piece was resurrected and made popular by famed pianist Jorge Bolet, is a rarely performed gem melding orchestra with piano in a duet of energy and radiant lyricism.
Mikhail Korzzev is one of the few pianists of this generation who has the boldness, technique, and strength to take on Marx’s Romantic Piano Concerto. He “projects strength, atmosphere and the ability to tangle even the knottiest passages…” (International Record Review)

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Program
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Pre-Concert Video

Program
Arturo Márquez Danzón No. 2 (Audience Choice 2026)
The Montgomery VariationsMargaret Allison Bonds (1913-1972) 1. Decision 2. Prayer Meeting 3. March 4. Dawn in Dixie 5. One Sunday in the South 6. Lament 7. Benediction
Romantic Piano Concerto (Michigan premiere)Joseph Marx 1882-1964 1. Lebhaft (Allegro moderato) 2. Nicht zu langsam (Andante affettuoso) 3. Sehr lebhaft (Allegro molto)
Mikhail Korzhev, piano
Learn more about the music…
We will be hosting not only the Classical Chat series at Freedom Village, but also Pre-Concert Talks! Details below:
Classical Chats at Freedom Village: These informative and fun talks are led by Johannes Müller-Stosch and take place at 3 pm on the Thursday before each Classics concert. (Freedom Village, 6th Floor Auditorium, 145 Columbia Ave.)
Pre-Concert Talks: These talks, led by Johannes Müller-Stosch and Amanda Dykhouse, are online under the “Pre-Concert Talk” Tab.
New to the Symphony? Check out the Frequently Asked Question page…

Mikhail Korzhev, a pianist that “projects strength, atmosphere and the ability to tangle even the knottiest passages…” (International Record Review) is equally active as a solo recitalist, a performer with various chamber groups, a soloist with orchestras, and as a recording artist. His latest CD recordings, the two volumes of a Complete Piano Concertos by Ernst Krenek in collaboration with English Symphony Orchestra and Kenneth Woods were released by Toccata Classics in 2016 and 2017 to enthusiastic reviews in Gramophone, Diapason and other publications, made it to the “want list” of Fanfare magazine, became one of “10 Best Contemporary Records of the Year” by The Times (London), and in December 2017 made it to the list of “Top 10 Best Classical Records of the Year” by Forbes magazine. In September 2017 Korzhev became a recipient of a prestigious Anassilaos Prize, the annual award for the achievements in Arts and Sciences given by the local government of the province of Calabria (Italy).
Korzhev collaborated with several distinguished conductors: Sergiu Commissiona, Carlo Ponti Jr. and others, his chamber music collaborations include performing with soloists of Russian National Orchestra, Mladi Chamber Orchestra, Lyris String Quartet, and members of St. Petersburg and Tokyo String Quartets among others. His collaborative work was highly appreciated by Eugenia Zukerman, Richard Stolzman, Oleh Krysa and other noted musicians. Korzhev’s performances received a high critical acclaim from American and European press: ”The young Russian pianist… displayed a notable technical mastery which allowed for passionate moments of ardent lyricism as well as wonderful purity and fluency…” (Momento Sera, Rome).”Korzhev belongs to that exclusive club of super musicians…he already performs like a keyboard legend…he is a major talent.” (Salt Lake Tribune).
His particular interest in contemporary music has lead Korzhev to participate in the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition in 2005, which had the emphasis on the music of Ernst Krenek. As a winner of that competition Korzhev gave a recital in the Vienna’s Konzerthaus about which the Wiener Zeitung wrote: “Korzhev obviously has a lot of affection for Krenek’s style… brings out well the dramatic qualities of his music…” Following the success of his Vienna debut Korzhev recorded a CD of Krenek’s piano music, released by Phoenix Edition/Naxos in 2008 that became an instant top seller and received several very enthusiastic reviews in the press.
Korzhev’s discography also includes three CD recordings featuring compositions for solo piano and chamber works by a prominent English composer Gerard Schurmann (in collaboration with Alyssa Park and Lyris string quartet) and a compilation of 40 classical standards for the online music library Megatrax.com.
Korzhev combines his performing career with teaching. He taught at University of Southern California. Currently he is on the faculty of California State University at Fullerton and Chapman University. Since 2008 Korzhev is the faculty member at Beverly Hills International Music Festival. In the summer of 2009 he taught a summer course at the Bosendorfer Piano Academy in Vienna, Austria.
Korzhev holds a doctorate in piano performance from University of Southern California, where he studied with Daniel Pollack. His previous teachers include Alexander Satz and Vera Khoroshina at Moscow Conservatory College.

Pops at the Pier 2026: From Broadway to the Big Screen
2026-06-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Eldean’s Boat Shed, 2150 S. Shore Drive, Holland, 49423, United States
FROM BROADWAY TO THE BIG SCREEN
Pops at the Pier
THURS, JUNE 18, 2026, AT 7 PM
Eldean ShipyardFernanda Lastra, Guest ConductorDee Donasco, Vocalist
A special thank you to the Eldean family for their hospitality and support.
Enjoy hits from Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman, Wicked, Chicago, and West Side Story featuring your HSO, the 2024 Women in Classical Music award-winning conductor Fernanda Lastra, and the soaring vocals of Tennessee favorite Dee Donasco. The orchestra will take the spotlight with hits from movies such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Titanic, and Indiana Jones. Enjoy the pre-concert performance of the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra at 6 pm, along with a variety of food trucks and beverages for sale.
Tickets: $40 Adults, $12 Students
Renewing subscribers will receive their 2026-2027 HSO brochure and order forms in the mail in late March. Subscriber seats will be held until April 30. New subscriptions go on sale on May 1st, and single tickets on July 1st. For more information, email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org, or call 616-796-6780. ​ Join us in celebrating the artistry, community impact, and legacy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra! ​

Dee Donasco, Vocalist

Music Unites Us: Free Family Concert
2026-08-15 14:00 - 15:30 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
THE ARTHUR J. AND KATHRYN MERVENNE FOUNDATION
COMMUNITY CONCERT
Free Family Concert
SAT, AUG 15, 2026, AT 2 PM
West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
Johannes Müller Stosch, Conductor
Amanda Dykhouse and Michelle Bessemer, violins
Allison Shinnick Keep & David Keep, pianos
Program:
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: “Allegro giusto” from Petite Suite
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: The Carnival of the Animals
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Double Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043
OTTORINO RESPIGHI: Ancient Airs and Dances: Suite 1
Join your HSO for a family-friendly afternoon of four-hand piano fun and sizzling strings featuring HSO principal violinists. Famed for its brilliant musical wit, vivid imagery, and accessible charm, The Carnival of the Animals is a “zoological fantasy” that uses instruments to mimic animals, such as the double bass for an elephant, the xylophone for fossils, and the cello for the swan.
Attendance is free. Subscribers and donors will receive priority seating.
Supporting sponsors include Corewell Health, Gentex, and the Woman’s Literary Club of Holland.

Resonance and Renewal
2026-09-12 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
RESONANCE AND RENEWAL
Season Ticket Series
SAT, SEPT 12, 2026, AT 7:30 PMTodd Craven, ConductorSookkyung Cho, Piano
In Memory of George Boerigter
Program:
VALERIE COLEMAN: Seven O’Clock Shout
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Piano Concerto in D Minor, K.466
JEAN SIBELIUS: Symphony No.2 in D Major, Op.43
Experience an unforgettable evening of music celebrating resilience and unity! Grammy-nominated flutist and composer Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout—an anthem honoring frontline workers—opens the program with vibrant energy. Mozart’s stormy and dramatic D minor Piano Concerto follows with brilliance and passion. The night culminates in Sibelius’s majestic Symphony No. 2, a sweeping journey from darkness to light that echoes the strength of the human spirit.
Renewing subscribers will receive their 2026-2027 HSO brochure and order forms in the mail in late March. Subscriber seats will be held until April 30. New subscriptions go on sale on May 1st and single tickets on July 1st. For more information, email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org, or call 616-796-6780. ​ Join us in celebrating the artistry, community impact, and legacy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra! ​

Sookkyung Cho, Piano Soloist

The Forces of Fate
2026-11-21 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
THE FORCES OF FATE
Season Ticket Series
SAT, NOV 21, 2026, AT 7:30 PM
Micah Gleason, Conductor
Alicia Eppinga, Cello
Sponsored by Caron Farmer
Program:
CARLOS SIMON: Fate Now Conquers
EDWARD ELGAR: Cello Concerto, Op.85
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No.4 in F Minor, Op.36
This sonic odyssey explores fate, longing, and triumph! Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers responds to Beethoven’s iconic Seventh Symphony, weaving gospel roots with classical brilliance. Elgar’s haunting Cello Concerto, born from post-war grief, contrasts deep melancholy with flashes of resilience. Tchaikovsky’s autobiographical Fourth Symphony erupts with passion, its “fate” motif driving a journey from turmoil to euphoric triumph.
Tickets: $33-$31, Obstructed $15, Students $12
Renewing subscribers will receive their 2026-2027 HSO brochure and order forms in the mail in late March. Subscriber seats will be held until April 30. New subscriptions go on sale on May 1st, and single tickets on July 1st. For more information, email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org, or call 616-796-6780. ​ Join us in celebrating the artistry, community impact, and legacy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra! ​
Alicia Eppinga, Cello Soloist

Home for the Holidays 2026 - Matinee
2026-12-12 15:30 - 17:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
HOLIDAY CONCERT – Matinee
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Season Ticket Series
SAT, DEC 12, 2026 AT 3:30
West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
Johannes Müller Stosch, Conductor
Jennie Judd Reyes, Soprano
Guest Artist Sponsors Neil & Mary Carter
Join your HSO in a festive, family-friendly concert filled with Holiday classics and sacred music with famed West Michigan soprano Jennie Judd Reyes!
Tickets: $33-$31, Obstructed $15, Students $12
Renewing subscribers will receive their 2026-2027 HSO brochure and order forms in the mail in late March. Subscriber seats will be held until April 30. New subscriptions go on sale on May 1st, and single tickets on July 1st. For more information, visit HollandSymphony.org, email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org, or call 616-796-6780. ​ Join us in celebrating the artistry, community impact, and legacy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra! ​
Johannes Muller Stosch

Home for the Holidays 2026 - Evening
2026-12-12 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
HOLIDAY CONCERT – Evening
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Season Ticket Series
SAT, DEC 12, 2026 AT 7:30 PM
West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
Johannes Müller Stosch, Conductor
Jennie Judd Reyes, Soprano
Guest Artist Sponsors Neil & Mary Carter
Join your HSO in a festive, family-friendly concert filled with Holiday classics and sacred music with famed West Michigan soprano Jennie Judd Reyes!
Tickets: $33-$31, Obstructed $15, Students $12
Renewing subscribers will receive their 2026-2027 HSO brochure and order forms in the mail in late March. Subscriber seats will be held until April 30. New subscriptions go on sale on May 1st, and single tickets on July 1st. For more information, email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org, or call 616-796-6780. ​ Join us in celebrating the artistry, community impact, and legacy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra! ​

Music From the New World
2027-03-20 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
Music From the New World
Season Ticket Series
SAT, MAR 20, 2027, AT 7:30 PM
Wesley Schulz, Conductor
Lynne Aspnes, Harp
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR The Bamboula Symphonic Rhapsody
NINO ROTA Harp Concerto
ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, “From the New World”
Embrace the vibrant spirit of American music in this dynamic celebration of cultural fusion and timeless masterpieces! Dvořák’s New World Symphony dazzles with its soulful English Horn solo and infectious rhythms, inspired by Native and Black American traditions and spiritual tunes heard in New York City in the 1890s. Coleridge-Taylor brings the pulse of “The Bamboula” , rooted in African American heritage, to life with rich melody and rhythm. Adding a lyrical touch, Italian composer Nino Rota – famed for his award-winning score for the hit movie The Godfather – is also revered for his elegant, rarely performed Harp Concerto.
Tickets: $33-$31, Obstructed $15, Students $12
Renewing subscribers will receive their 2026-2027 HSO brochure and order forms in the mail in late March. Subscriber seats will be held until April 30. New subscriptions go on sale on May 1st and single tickets on July 1st. For more information, email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org, or call 616-796-6780. ​ Join us in celebrating the artistry, community impact, and legacy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra! ​
Lynne Aspnes, Harp Soloist

A Closing Chapter
2027-04-17 19:30 - 21:00 | West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
A CLOSING CHAPTER
Season Ticket Series
SAT, APRIL 17, 2027, AT 7:30 PM
Johannes Müller Stosch, Conductor
Kayleigh Decker, Mezzo-Soprano
Sponsored by Doug & Kay Walvoord
JOSEPH MARX Transfigured Year
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74, “Pathétique”
Johannes Müller Stosch conducts his final concert as Music Director in a program reflecting transformation, passion, and gratitude. The program opens with Joseph Marx’s enchanting Transfigured Year, a lush song cycle blending lyrical beauty and sweeping orchestration. Tchaikovsky’s final symphony – a masterpiece of raw emotion and daring structure- goes from brooding despair to fleeting joy. The fiery climax, ending in haunting sorrow, is a poignant farewell that has captivated audiences for generations.
Tickets: $33-$31, Obstructed $15, Students $12
Renewing subscribers will receive their 2026-2027 HSO brochure and order forms in the mail in late March. Subscriber seats will be held until April 30. New subscriptions go on sale on May 1st and single tickets on July 1st. For more information, email Ticketing@HollandSymphony.org, or call 616-796-6780. ​ Join us in celebrating the artistry, community impact, and legacy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra! ​

Kayleigh Decker, Mezzo-Soprano
